Jeter: “I don’t have to convince myself that I’m ready”

[2]It’s been an oddly busy day here in Tampa. The hours weren’t filled with especially vital moments, just a bunch of formalities. The first full-squad workout, Robinson Cano talking about his pending free agency — spoiler alert, he said he’s not worried about it! — and Ichiro Suzuki giving his first group interview since rejoining the Yankees.

But, naturally, much of the focus was on Derek Jeter who went through most of the drills with his teammates. He didn’t do the early conditioning — he’s on his own stretching program and not ready to jog on the field — but he came outside to play catch with Robinson Cano, field grounders with Eduardo Nunez and take batting practice in a group with new teammate Travis Hafner.

“I already said to myself that I’m good (to go),” Jeter said. “There’s steps along the way, but there’s always steps along the way in the offseason before you play. You run the bases. You go first to third. You make different plays in the field. Simulate stealing bases. Those are all things that you do anyway, so I have to progress to that, but I don’t have to convince myself that I’m ready.”

Jeter said his ankle felt fine today.

“Everything else feels a little rough, but my ankle feels good,” Jeter said. “… Everything (is sore). Where do you want to start? Neck. My shoulder. My back. My calf. My foot. I’m just talking about getting in shape in general. You talk to guys who worked out all offseason, the first week of spring training they’re sore, so don’t make a big deal out of this.”

It’s Jeter, so what are the chances of something being made into a bigger deal than it really is?